The Congress convened in Tiraspol voted on Wednesday a resolution in which it supports the thesis of the sovereignty of the region and asks Moscow for help in this regard, accusing the Republic of Moldova of “genocide”, according to the posts on the official Telegram channels of the region.
According to a draft of the resolution, which previously circulated on Telegram channels, the 7th Congress decided “to address” the Federation Council and the State Duma of Russia, the two chambers of the Russian parliament, “with the request to take measures in order to protecting Transnistria under the conditions of increasing pressure from Moldova”.
Tiraspol argues that it addresses Moscow, given that more than 200,000 citizens of the Russian Federation live on the territory of Transnistria, as well as “taking into account Russia’s positive experience as a peacemaker on the Dniester and its status as a guarantor and mediator in the negotiation process in the Transnistrian problem”.
The resolution, adopted unanimously, does not specify how Russia would intervene to “help Transnistria”, but it is worth noting that it does not request joining the Russian Federation. Moreover, the speeches of the officials who took the floor at the congress focused more on emphasizing the independence of the region and would not have discussed a union with the Russian Federation.
“Transnistria will perseverely fight for its own identity, the rights and interests of the Transnistrian people and will not refuse to defend them, regardless of any form of blackmail and external pressure,” the adopted resolution says.
The separatists addressed the Council of the Federation and the State Duma of Russia (the two chambers of the Russian parliament – n.r.) with the request “to implement measures to protect Transnistria under the conditions of increasing pressure from the Republic of Moldova.
The Transnistrian authorities claimed that over 220,000 Russian citizens live in Transnistria, arguing that “Russia participates in the peacekeeping mission on the Dniester and is a guarantor and mediator in the negotiation process.”
In his speech at the Congress, the leader of the region, Vadim Krasnoselski, accused Chisinau of “genocide”. He named four forms of “genocide” against Transnistria that have taken place in the last 30 years: economic strangulation, physical destruction of a part of the people, denial of legal protection, attempt to impose language by force. “Moldova traditionally uses global difficulties to disadvantage Transnistria. This is valid for the collapse of the Soviet Union at the time, it is valid for the pandemic, it is valid for the hostilities in Ukraine”, accused the Transnistrian leader, Vadim Krasnoselski.
Last week, Transnistrian opponent Ghenadie Ciorba, quoted by INFOTAG, had said that at the Congress from February 28 Tiraspol would ask to join Russia.
Moldova vs Russia
While Republic of Moldova rejected the “propagandistic declarations from Tiraspol”, after the separatist leaders in the territory asked Russia for “protection in the face of pressure from Chisinau”, the Kremlin claimed that “defending the interests of Transnistrian citizens is a priority”.
Maia Sandu, the president of the Republic of Moldova, said that the country still wants to resolve the Transnistrian conflict peacefully and added that “what the government is doing today are small steps for the economic reintegration of the country”.
The head of state refers to a measure that entered into force on January 1, according to which companies registered in the separatist region are obliged to pay import taxes to the budget of Moldova.
At the same time, Oleg Serebrian, the deputy prime minister of Moldova responsible for reintegration, rejected the “propaganda statements from Tiraspol”, referring to the conclusions of the “Congress of Transnistrian deputies”. The official wrote, in a post on Telegram, that “the Transnistrian region benefits from the policies of peace, security and economic integration with the European Union, advantageous for all citizens”.
Instead, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that defending the interests of Transnistrian citizens is one of its priorities and that it will carefully analyze the demands made in the congress
Things are moving fast and Romania should absorb Moldova asap.